Despicable Me 2: More fun and funnier than the first

Despicable Me 2 directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud and writers Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul pick up where they left off in the first film. All that's different is that they obviously had more fun doing this one than the original.

They continue the story of Gru and his three now-adopted daughters where we left them in Despicable Me. Gru -- who tried to steal the Moon in the first movie -- has retired as a villain and gone straight. He and the minions now make jam for a living.

Gru is recruited by an underground sleuthing organization, the Anti-Villain League and asked to help them find a bad guy who has invented a substance that will turn docile creatures into violent maniacs. They are afraid he'll use it to take over the world.

His contact is Lucy, who is just a little looney. They're sent underground to a candy shop in a mall where the substance was last spotted.

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Hands down, Despicable Me 2 is the year's funniest movie. You will laugh from the opening sequences to the funny minion outtakes at the end. I caught it almost a week ago, and I'm still laughing. Every time I think I'm finally done, another scene or skit pops into mind and the laughing starts all over again.

Coffin, Renaud and crew pack their linear story with nice side trips and skits that pump up the fun. Steve Carell voices Gru, and Kristin Wiig does Lucy. Carell's Gru is the film's focal point, and the plot and humor are balanced on his story. Sharing the vocal chores are Benjamin Bratt, Russell Brand, Ken Jeong and Steve Coogan.

Stealing the movie is the minions. The eraserlike one- and two-eyed characters shine in short bits. This one has something for everyone -- adults and kids. The screenplay is packed with G-rated adult humor and loads of slapstick for adults and kids.

About Gary Wolcott

Gary Wolcott's "Mr. Movie" column has appeared in the Tri-City Herald since 1992. The Tri-Cities native now lives in Portland, Ore., and watches about 200 movies each year. He believes movies are made to be seen on theater screens and that you should see them there, too. He also encourages questions and comment and loves movie debate.